Hydraulic bicycle system

ABSTRACT

A normally closed port valve seals a hydraulic hose connection port of a hydraulic bicycle component. Connection of an end of a hydraulic hose assembly to the port opens the valve, placing the assembly&#39;s hydraulic fluid chamber in fluid communication with the interior of the hose assembly. A hydraulic cylinder of the assembly is in fluid communication with the chamber. A spring may be used to bias the valve to a closed condition and simultaneously to bias a brake actuating piston to a non-actuated position.

The present application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/594,731, filed Jan. 12, 2015.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to a hydraulic bicycle system. Morespecifically, this invention relates to a hydraulic bicycle componentand/or a hydraulic hose assembly that are used in a hydraulic bicyclesystem.

An example of a hydraulic bicycle system is a hydraulic brake system. Atypical hydraulic brake system includes a brake hand lever assembly thatis fluidly coupled to a brake caliper assembly by a hydraulic hoseassembly. To actuate the brake, the rider squeezes the hand lever.Through a cam or other linkage, this squeezing motion advances a primarypiston down the axis of a hydraulic primary cylinder. This pressurizesand displaces hydraulic fluid in the chamber forward of the piston head.The chamber, and its fluid content, is in fluid communication with thefluid-filled hydraulic hose assembly by way of a hand lever assemblyconnection port. A remote end of the hydraulic hose assembly in turn isconnected to another connection port on the housing of the caliperassembly. The caliper assembly contains at least one, and may containseveral, secondary cylinders with secondary pistons that slide along therespective axes of their cylinders. This latter piston movement will betranslated by the caliper assembly into a clamping force on the rim ordisk. Hence, advancement of the piston within the primary cylinderpressurizes and displaces hydraulic fluid ahead of it, and this resultsin hydraulic fluid in the caliper assembly housing advancing piston(s)within their respective secondary cylinders.

An issue peculiar to hydraulic brake systems is the prevention orminimization of the introduction of air into the hydraulic brake lines,cylinders and fluid chambers. A consideration which hydraulic bicyclebrake systems share with other hand-actuated bicycle controls is toreduce, as much as possible, the aerodynamic drag of the cables andhoses. To minimize such drag, designers seek to route the lines throughthe bicycle frame, through frame holes that are made as small aspossible. In order to route a hydraulic brake hose, the hose must beseparated from either the brake lever assembly or the brake caliperassembly and fed through frame entry and exit points. Given that thehydraulic brake system requires full fluid volume and a minimal quantityof entrapped air to function properly, the process of disconnecting andreconnecting the brake hose to the brake assembly(ies) should minimizethe loss of brake fluid and entry of air into the system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the invention, a hydraulic hose assembly for ahydraulic bicycle component is provided. The hydraulic hose assemblyincludes a hose having a bore, a hose end member and a hose sealingmember. The hose end member includes a stem portion disposed in the hosebore and a head portion extending beyond an end of the hose. The headportion has a contact surface for contacting the port valve of thehydraulic bicycle component. The hose sealing member sealingly engagesthe hose and the hose end member. The head portion of the hose endmember is configured to inhibit the hose sealing member from deformablydisplacing beyond the contact surface of the head portion when thehydraulic hose assembly is connected to the hydraulic hose connectionport of the hydraulic bicycle component.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further aspects of the invention and their advantages can be discernedin the following detailed description, with reference to the drawings inwhich like characters denote like parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a mountain bike that may incorporate oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a hydraulic bicycle system incorporating oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a brake hand lever assembly, shown priorto connection to a hydraulic hose assembly;

FIG. 3A is a magnified detail of FIG. 3 showing a closed position of aport valve;

FIG. 3B is a magnified detail of a port valve according to anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the brake hand lever assembly shown inFIG. 2, but showing a hydraulic hose assembly connected to the brakehand lever assembly;

FIG. 4A is a magnified detail of FIG. 4, showing an open position of theport valve;

FIG. 4B is a perspective view of a hose end member of FIG. 4;

FIG. 4C is a partial cross-sectional view of a hydraulic hose assemblyof FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a magnified detail of a hydraulic hose assembly according toanother embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6A is an isometric view of a port valve suitable for use with theinvention;

FIG. 6B is a side view of the port valve shown in FIG. 6A;

FIG. 6C is a sectional view of the port valve shown in FIG. 6A;

FIG. 6D is a side view of the port valve shown in FIG. 6A, the viewbeing at ninety degrees to the view shown in FIG. 6B;

FIG. 6E is a sectional view of the port valve shown in FIG. 6A, thesection taken substantially at 90 degrees from the section shown in FIG.6C;

FIG. 7 is a schematic section view of a port valve and valve cylinderend wall according to an alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view of a port valve and fluid chamberend wall according to a further alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a brake hand lever assembly in a conditionas it might be provided to an end user;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a hydraulic hose assembly and a routingtool attached thereto;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the hydraulic hose assembly and therouting tool of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a side view with parts broken away of a “road bike” hydraulichand lever assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 12A is a magnified detail of FIG. 12; and

FIG. 13 is a side view, with parts broken away, of a brake caliperassembly of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments of the invention will be described herein withreference to the drawings. It will be understood that the drawings andthe description set out herein are provided for illustration only and donot limit the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto and anyand all their equivalents. For example, the terms referred to bicyclecomponents conventionally mounted to a bicycle and with the bicycleorientated and used in a standard fashion unless otherwise indicated.

Referring to FIG. 1, numeral 10 generally indicates a bicycle that mayincorporate one embodiment of the present invention. The bicycle 10generally includes a frame 12, front and rear wheels 14, 16 rotatablyattached to the frame 12, and a drivetrain 18. A front brake caliperassembly 20 is provided for braking the front wheel 14 and a rear brakecaliper assembly 22 is provided for braking the rear wheel 16. Thedrivetrain 18 includes a chain 24, a front crank assembly 26 includingcrank arms 28 and a plurality of chainrings 30, a front derailleur 32attached to a seat tube 34 of the frame 12, a rear sprocket assembly(not shown) coaxially mounted to the rear wheel 16 and a rear derailleur38. The rear brake 22 is operated by a rear brake lever 44 located onthe handlebar 42. The front brake 20 is operated by a rear brake lever(not shown) also located on the handlebar 42. The forward ridingdirection is indicated by the direction of arrow “A”. While theillustrated bicycle 10 is a mountain bike, the present invention hasapplications to bicycles of any type, including road bikes and others,as well as bicycles with mechanical (e.g. cable, hydraulic, pneumatic)and non-mechanical (e.g. wired, wireless) drive systems.

One embodiment of a hydraulic bicycle system is shown in FIG. 2 and isindicated generally at 100. The hydraulic bicycle system 100 is ahydraulic brake system that includes hydraulic bicycle components, inthis embodiment a brake hand lever assembly 102 and a brake caliperassembly 106, and a hydraulic hose assembly 104. Alternatively, thehydraulic bicycle system may be a hydraulic suspension system orhydraulic shifting system. In operation, fluid chambers in components102 and 106, and the interior of hose assembly 104, are filled with acontinuous phase of hydraulic fluid. The illustrated brake hand leverassembly 102 is of the “mountain bike” type. The invention hasapplication to other types of bicycles, as will be described in moredetail later. The illustrated caliper assembly 106 is commonly found on“mountain bikes” as shown in FIG. 1 as caliper assemblies 20, 22 thatcompress a disk 17 circumferentially mounted around an axle of thebicycle wheels 14, 16. However, the present invention also hasapplication to rim brake hydraulic caliper assemblies, of the typehaving calipers which compress a rim of the wheel between them.

The brake hand lever assembly 102 has a hand lever 108 that pivotsaround a pivot 110. The hand lever assembly 102 is adapted to be affixedto a bicycle handlebar by an attachment member or clamp 112. Theillustrated “mountain bike” type assembly 102 further has a hydraulicfluid reservoir 114. Brake assembly 102 has a hydraulic hose connectionport 116 which is adapted to receive an end of the hydraulic hoseassembly 104.

The hydraulic hose assembly 104, here shown in an interrupted view sothat only its ends are illustrated, fluidly connects the hand leverassembly 102 with the caliper assembly 106. A first end of the hydraulichose assembly 104 is connected to the hydraulic hose connection port 116while a second, remote end is connected to a hydraulic hose connectionport 118 of the caliper assembly 106. In one embodiment of theinvention, a port valve (described below) is provided only for hydraulichose connection port 116, while no such port valve is provided forhydraulic hose connection port 118. In an alternative embodiment, a portvalve 262 may also be provided for hydraulic hose connection port 118,see FIG. 11. Accordingly, the present invention may have a port valve inonly one of the brake hand lever assembly and the brake caliper assemblyor both.

As shown in FIG. 3, the brake hand lever assembly 102 generally includesa housing 101, a piston assembly 103 and port valve assembly 105. Thehousing 101 includes an attachment portion 112 adapted to be attached tothe handlebar 42 (FIG. 1). The housing 101 further includes a cylinder200 that defines a hydraulic fluid chamber 204 and the hydraulic hoseconnection port 116 adapted to be connected to the hydraulic hoseassembly 104. The hand lever 108 pivots around a pin or pivot 110 fixedto housing 101. In the illustrated embodiment, the hand lever 108 hastwo structural components: a blade 122 and a cam 124. The blade 122pivots around a pivot 126 that is offset from pivot 110. A hand leveradjustment mechanism 128 includes a screw 130 that spaces an end 132 ofthe cam 124 from pivot 126, thereby adjusting the position of the blade122 relative to the handlebar (not shown) on which the hand leverassembly 102 is mounted. A surface 134 of the cam 124 cams against aroller 136. The roller 136 is mounted on a follower 138 that pivotsaround a follower pin 140.

The piston assembly 103 is operatively connected to the follower 138.The piston assembly 103 generally includes a piston 206, a pushrod 142,a hollow cap member 144 and front and rear umbrella seals 214, 216. Thepushrod 142 includes a rear end articuably connected to the follower138. A front end of the pushrod 142 is seated within the hollow capmember 144 that itself is slidably received within a piston bore orcylinder 200.

A front wall 202 of the cap member 144 defines a rear end wall of thecylinder 200 in which the piston 206 is slidably disposed. Since thehydraulic bicycle component illustrated in FIG. 3 is a hand leverassembly, the piston 206 is a primary piston. In operation, the riderpulls the blade 122 toward the handlebar (not shown), or upward and tothe right in FIG. 3, and through the linkage described above advancesthe primary piston 206 from the illustrated non-actuated position to anactuated position in which the piston 206 is forwardly displaced withincylinder 200, or to the left in FIG. 3.

In this embodiment, the housing 101 includes a fluid reservoir 114 thatis fluidly connected to the cylinder 200 by a timing port 210 and acompensating port 212. Other embodiments may lack this reservoir. Thepiston 206 is equipped with circumferential, elastomeric umbrella seals214 and 216 that slidably engage a sidewall 218 of the cylinder 200.

A front end 220 of the primary piston 206 is convexly curved in thisillustrated embodiment. A helical compression spring 222 is disposedwithin fluid chamber 204, and partially within cylinder 200. A rear endof the spring 222 contacts the piston 206.

FIG. 3A illustrates the hydraulic hose connection port 116 and relatedstructure in more detail. A frustoconical transition surface 224 joinscylinder 200 to a port valve cylinder 226. Port valve cylinder 226,which in this embodiment is sized to slidably receive the port valveassembly 105. The port valve assembly 105 includes a port valve 236having a valve base 240 and a valve shaft 242. The valve base 240terminates in a forward (in this view, left) direction by an end wall228. The connection port 116 may include a hydraulic hose connectionbore 230 that is sized to receive an end of the hydraulic hose assembly104 and certain terminating structure as will be hereinafter described.The hose connection bore 230 terminates in a port external wall 232. Arelatively restricted connection port passage 234 extends from portexternal wall 232 to end wall 228.

FIG. 3A shows the port valve 236 in a closed or sealed position, inwhich a forward face 238 of the valve base 240 seals against the endwall 228 of the valve cylinder 226. The valve shaft 242 forwardlyextends from the forward face 238 of the valve base 240 to a free end237 of the shaft 242. A length of the shaft 242 from its junction withthe base 240 to its free end 237 is chosen to be longer than a length ofthe connection port passage 234. Therefore, the free end 237 of thevalve shaft 242 will protrude into the hose connection bore 230. Aforward end of the spring 222 contacts or is joined to a rear surface ofthe valve base 240, biasing the valve 236 to the closed position shown.A rear end of the spring 222 contacts or is operatively connected to thefront end 220 of the piston 206, acting to bias the piston 206 to anon-actuated position. In other embodiments, the single spring 222 couldbe replaced with separate port valve and piston-biasing springs.

FIGS. 4 and 4A show the hand lever assembly 102 after the hydraulic hoseassembly 104 has been connected to it. The hydraulic hose assembly 104generally includes a hose 245 having a bore 251, a hose end member 246and a hose sealing member or olive 252, see FIG. 4C. The hose end memberor hose barb 246 includes a head portion 243 extending beyond an end 239of the hose 245 and a stem portion 244 disposed in the hose bore 251. Anend surface of the head portion 243 constitutes a contact surface 248 ofthe hose assembly 104. The retaining ring or snap ring 247 is disposedin a circumferential groove 249 in a radially exterior surface 255 ofthe head portion 243, see FIGS. 4B and 4C. The snap ring 247 protrudesbeyond the radially exterior surface 255 of the head portion 243. Thehose assembly 104 is assembled by inserting the hose barb 246 into thebore 251 of the hose 245. An end wall 253 of the head portion 243 of thehose barb 246 abuts the end 239 of the hose 245. Then, the hose 245 andbarb 245 are inserted through a compression member or nut 250 and thenthrough the olive 252. While the hose barb 246 is passing through theolive 252, the snap ring 247 is deflected radially inward until itpasses through the olive 252 and then deflects radially outward,securing the olive 252 behind the snap ring 247. A first extent of theolive 252 is disposed about a radially exterior surface 257 of the end239 of the hose 245 and a second extent is disposed about the radiallyexterior surface 255 of the head portion 243 of the hose barb 246.

This hose assembly 104 is then inserted the hose connection bore 230, aninterior sidewall which is threaded. A terminal section 254 of the hoseconnection bore 230 is frustoconical and provides a surface againstwhich olive 252 can be deformed or crushed. Once the hose assembly 104is inserted, the compression nut 250 is threaded into the bore 230,axially deformably displacing the olive 252 against surface 254 and thesnap ring 247. The snap ring 247 inhibits the olive 252 from deformablydisplacing beyond the contact surface 248 of the hose barb 246 toinhibit the olive 252 from interfering with the secure connection of thehydraulic hose assembly 104 to the hydraulic hose connection port 116.As the compression nut 250 continues to tighten, the pressure on thesnap ring 247 causes the hose assembly 104 to be fully inserted into theconnection port 116. After connection is completed, the contact surface248 abuts external wall 232, and pushes the free end of valve shaft 242,and therefore the entire body of the valve 236, rearwardly, or to theright in this FIG. 4A. This unseals the forward face 238 of valve base240 from the end wall 228. In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 5,the retaining ring 247 may be eliminated by threadably connecting a hosesealing member or an olive 530 to a hose end member or a hose barb 532.The hose barb 532 includes a head portion 540 extending beyond an end239 of the hose 245 and a stem portion 542 disposed in the hose bore251. The olive 530 may include threads 534 on an interior surface tomate with threads 536 on an exterior surface of the hose barb 532. Thethreaded connection between the olive 530 and the hose barb 532 inhibitthe olive 530 from deformably displacing beyond a contact surface 538 ofthe hose barb 532 when the hose assembly 104 is connected to thehydraulic hose connection port 116, thereby ensuring displacement of theport valve 236 to the open position.

The position of port valve 236 in FIGS. 4 and 4A puts the hydraulicfluid chamber 204 in fluid communication with the bore 251 of hose 245.Pushing valve shaft 242 rearwardly uncovers second valve ports 256(described in more detail below). In this embodiment, the port valve 236is the only valve moved to place the hydraulic hose assembly 104 influid communication with the hydraulic fluid chamber 204 responsive tothe connection of the hydraulic hose assembly 104 to the hydraulic hoseconnection port 116. As seen in FIG. 2A, when the port valve 236 is inthe closed position, the second valve ports 256 are disposed within theconnection port passage 234 and are therefore occluded thereby.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2, 2A, 3 and 3A, the cylinder 200,transition surface 224, port valve cylinder 226, hose connection bore230 and connection port passage 234 are all coaxial. Also, in thisembodiment, a valve fluid chamber 258 which includes valve cylinder 226is contiguous with the hydraulic fluid chamber 204. In other embodimentsthe hydraulic fluid chamber 204 and the valve fluid chamber 258 could beseparated from each other or disposed at an angle to each other.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the caliper assembly 106 includesthe hydraulic hose connection port 118 and a port valve assembly 260that may be identical in structure to the port valve assembly 105 of thebrake hand lever assembly. The valve assembly 260 includes a port valve262 that operates similar to the port valve 236. The port valve 262moves between an open position that places the hose assembly 104 influid communication with a hydraulic fluid chamber 264, and a closedposition that seals the connection port 118. The port valve 262 openswhen an end of the hydraulic hose assembly is inserted into a hoseconnection bore 266 thereby placing the hydraulic hose assembly in fluidcommunication with the hydraulic fluid chamber 264. The port valve 262is biased toward the closed position by a spring 268. The spring 268 mayalso bias a secondary piston (not shown) that is slidably disposed inthe same hydraulic fluid chamber 264.

One embodiment of port valve 236 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 6A-6E.A valve sealing member 400, in this embodiment an elastomeric O-ring, isseated in a circumferential groove 402. Groove 402 is cut into theforward face 238 of the base 240 and radially surrounds the valve shaft242. The O-ring seals against the fluid chamber end wall 228 when thevalve 236 is in the closed position. In an alternative embodiment shownin FIG. 3B, a valve sealing member 430 or elastomeric O-ring couldinstead or in addition be provided on fluid chamber end wall 228, whichwould then seal to the forward face 238 of the valve 236 when the valve236 is moved to the closed position.

A first valve port 404 may be formed as a cylindrical bore coaxial withconnection port passage 234, and opens onto the free end 406 of thevalve shaft 242. A diameter of the first valve port 404 can be chosen tobe no less than an interior diameter of the hose barb 246, so as not toinhibit flow rate. The free end 406 presents a flat surface which isadapted to abut the end face 248 of the hose barb 246 when the hoseassembly 104 is affixed inside hose connection bore 230. The first valveport 404 intersects with at least one second valve port 408, which inturn opens on the sidewall 410 of the shaft 242. In the illustratedembodiment, there are two such second valve ports 408 opening ondifferent locations of the shaft sidewall 410, and they are formed by asingle cylindrical bore formed orthogonally to a cylindrical boreforming first valve port 404. To increase fluid flow, each second valveport 408 has, at its opening onto sidewall 410, a concavely arcuatechamfer 412.

The valve base 240 has a circular margin 414 that is slidably engagedwith the sidewall of the port valve cylinder 226 (FIGS. 2A and 3A).Axially aligned cut-outs 416 promote fluid flow between the second valveports 408 and the hydraulic fluid chamber 204. A radius cut 420 may bemade in the valve base 240 to seat a rear end of the helical compressionspring 222.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate two alternative embodiments of a port valve. InFIG. 7, a port valve 500 has a base 502 that is disposed within a valvecylinder or hydraulic fluid chamber 504. A shaft 506 of the valve 500extends forwardly (here, to the right) from the valve base 502. Theshaft 506 is slidably received within a connection port passage 508. Aforward face 510 of the base 502 is formed as a labyrinth, and thislabyrinth mates, when the valve 500 is in the closed position, with acorresponding labyrinth 512 formed on the fluid chamber end wall 514. Inan open position as shown, second ports 516 of the valve 500 becomeuncovered and permit fluid communication to and from the hydraulic fluidchamber 504.

In FIG. 8, a port valve 600 has a base 602 with a forward face 604 thatis formed as a convex cone or taper. An end wall 606 of the hydraulicfluid chamber 608 has a mating, concave cone or taper. When the valve600 is in the closed position, the surfaces 604, 606 will seal with eachother, inhibiting flow to and from the second valve ports 610.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a hydraulic brake hand lever assembly 102in a condition in which it might be shipped to or otherwise provided toan end user. The hydraulic fluid chamber 204 inside assembly housing 208is filled with hydraulic fluid. The valve 236 is urged by spring 222 toits closed position, sealing in the hydraulic fluid. A compression nut250 is inserted into hose connection bore 230. Over the compression nut250 is installed an elastomeric or other thermoplastic cap 700. An innerbore 702 of the cap fits over the compression nut 250. An outer bore 704of the cap fits over an outer sidewall of the hydraulic hose connectionport 116. In assembling or re-assembling a hydraulic brake system, theend user removes the cap 700 and inserts the hydraulic hose assembly.Twisting the compression nut 250 completes the connection.

Looking to FIGS. 10 and 11, a routing member or fishing tool 270 isprovided to route the hydraulic hose assembly 104 between the brake handlever assembly 102 and the brake caliper assembly 106 through thebicycle frame 12. The routing member 270 includes a head portion 272 anda stem portion 274. The head portion 272 includes an opening 276 forreceiving a pulling member such as a wire or cable (not shown). Thepulling member is used to pull the routing member 270 and the hydraulichose assembly 104, attached thereto, through the frame 12. To preventthe hydraulic fluid from leaking out of the hose 245, the head portion272 includes a forward face 278 having a sealing member 280, in thisembodiment an O-ring, which seals against the hose barb 246. The stemportion 274 has external threads 282 threadably engaged with matinginternal threads 284 on the hose barb 246 (see FIG. 4C). When routing ofthe hydraulic hose assembly 104 through the frame 12 is complete, therouting member 270 is threadably detached from the hose barb 246 topermit connection of the hose assembly 104 to the connection port 116 ofthe brake hand lever assembly 102.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 12A.A hydraulic road brake hand lever assembly 800 has a hydraulic hoseconnection port 116 and associated port valve 236 that can be identicalin structure to that used in the mountain bike hand lever assembly 102.The location of the connection port 116 is proximate to the location ofan attachment member or clamp 802. The valve 236 is shown in a closedposition as biased by spring 222. A forward end of the spring 222 can beoperatively connected to a master piston (not shown) and the masterpiston and valve 236 can reside in the same hydraulic fluid chamber 804.The present invention also has application to road rim brake caliperassemblies. In an alternative embodiment for a road brake hand leverassembly, the connection port 116 may not be located proximate theattachment member 802.

In summary, a hydraulic brake assembly has been shown and describedfeaturing a port valve associated with the hydraulic hose connectionport. Technical advantages in here from positioning a valve cylinder anda piston cylinder on the same axis in the same fluid chamber, and insharing a biasing spring. The port valve enhances the ability to shipthe hydraulic brake assembly as a separate unit as pre-filled withhydraulic fluid, and more easily permits the routing of hydraulic brakelines through the bicycle frame while minimizing air ingestion duringconnection.

While illustrated embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed and illustrated in the appended drawings, the presentinvention is not limited thereto but only by the scope and spirit of theappended claims.

We claim:
 1. A hydraulic hose assembly for a hydraulic bicycle componenthaving a hydraulic hose connection port and a port valve assembly influid communication with the hydraulic hose connection port, thehydraulic hose assembly comprising: a hose having a bore; a hose endmember including a stem portion disposed in the hose bore and a headportion extending beyond an end of the hose, the head portion having acontact surface for contacting the port valve assembly of the hydraulicbicycle component; and a hose sealing member sealingly engaging the hoseand the hose end member, the head portion of the hose end memberconfigured to inhibit the hose sealing member from deformably displacingbeyond the contact surface of the head portion when the hydraulic hoseassembly is connected to the hydraulic hose connection port of thehydraulic bicycle component.
 2. The hydraulic hose assembly of claim 1,wherein the hose end member includes a circumferential groove in aradially exterior surface of the head portion and a retaining ringdisposed in the circumferential groove and protruding beyond theradially exterior surface of the head portion to inhibit the hosesealing member from deformably displacing beyond the contact surface ofthe head portion when the hydraulic hose assembly is connected to thehydraulic hose connection port of the hydraulic bicycle component. 3.The hydraulic hose assembly of claim 2, further comprising a compressionmember disposed about the hose and configured to axially deformablydisplace the hose sealing member to sealingly engage the hose and thehose end member to the hose connection port when the hydraulic hoseassembly is connected to the hydraulic hose connection port of thehydraulic bicycle component.
 4. The hydraulic hose assembly of claim 3,wherein the compression member threadably engages the hydraulic hoseconnection port.
 5. The hydraulic hose assembly of claim 1, wherein thehead portion of the hose end member threadably engages the hose sealingmember to inhibit the hose sealing member from deformably displacingbeyond the contact surface of the head portion when the hydraulic hoseassembly is connected to the hydraulic hose connection port of thehydraulic bicycle component.
 6. The hydraulic hose assembly of claim 5,further comprising a compression member disposed about the hose andconfigured to axially deformably displace the hose sealing member tosealingly engage the hose and the hose end member to the hose connectionport when the hydraulic hose assembly is connected to the hydraulic hoseconnection port of the hydraulic bicycle component.
 7. The hydraulichose assembly of claim 6, wherein the compression member threadablyengages the hydraulic hose connection port.
 8. The hydraulic hoseassembly of claim 1, wherein the hose sealing member includes a firstextent disposed about a radially exterior surface of the end of the hoseand a second extent disposed about a radially exterior surface of thehead portion of the hose end member.
 9. The hydraulic hose assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the head portion of the hose end member includes an endwall abutting the end of the hose.